Cache Valley Lions members gathered on April 9 in the cozy Smithfield Lions lodge along with District Governor over the Northern Utah Lions, Bonnie Johnson, and other officials from the Lions board members. At this annual gathering awards were given and accomplishments celebrated. The Lions club concentrates on service, which was apparent in the awards.

Tom Karren, zone chairman of the Lions, presented Richard Criddle with a recognition for end- less hours spent in the service of the Lions club eye glass division, of which Criddle has been the chairman for many years. Thousands of people in Peru and Africa have been able to have their eyes scanned and fitted with appropriate glasses if needed with Criddle’s help. 9 people from the Lions club have left April 17 to serve the people of Senegal, Africa for 14 days, bring- ing the eye clinic with them. Criddle has served for 20+ years in securing humanitarian aid to developing countries.

The Star Community Education Cooperate Youth was also recognized for their ser- vice in raising the funds to purchase an eye scanner, which will be left with the trained partners of the Lions club eye glass division in Senegal, Africa. The past five month, four committee members and their leaders, organized different fund raisers with the help of the homeschooling youth in Cache Valley, to raise the $7,050 for the scanner. The scanner was purchased in Memory of Cameron Kent, a friend who passed away in October 2014.

An emotional Paul Buttars from Smithfield was awarded the Lions citizen of the year award. He and his wife Billie have been serving in the Smithfield Lions club for many years, helping at the Blue Sox concession stand and being in charge of renting and up- keep of the Lions lodge in Smithfield. Buttars has travelled to Peru and Africa with the eye glass division and Richard Criddle to help run the eye clinics and train local groups to eventually run independent of the Cache Valley Lions.